AG Eric Holder Speaks at the University of Auckland

Thank you, Vice-Chancellor McCutcheon,
for those kind words – and thank you all for such a warm
welcome. It’s a pleasure to be here in Auckland today.
And I’d particularly like to thank our hosts at the
University of Auckland for providing a forum for this
important discussion – and for bringing together such a
distinguished group. It’s great to be among so many
students, faculty members, and current and future leaders of
New Zealand’s legal community.

As one of this
country’s leading universities, and one of the world’s
preeminent centers of higher education, this institution has
served as a training ground for generations of students who
have gone on to shape every segment of Kiwi society; who
have positively impacted countless industries – and
individuals – around the world; and who have been
instrumental in writing every chapter of the rich history of
this island nation. Of course, despite this university’s
well-deserved reputation as a place of academic rigor, and a
meeting ground where issues of consequence are discussed and
addressed – as your motto states, “by natural ability
and hard work” – the University of Auckland first arose
from humble beginnings.

When it was formally opened –
130 years ago this month – its population totaled less
than a hundred, including just 4 teachers and 95 students.
Its facilities consisted of an old courthouse and a disused
jail. And its most popular programs helped to train
teachers and law clerks, whose efforts – to expand
educational opportunities and strengthen New Zealand’s
legal system – undoubtedly had a profound impact on
generations of Kiwis that followed in their
footsteps.

Now, there’s no question that you’ve come a
long way since those days. But I’m pleased to note that
your noble mission – and ambitious vision for the future
– remain very much the same. And that’s why, as we
gather this afternoon – to confront current challenges,
achieve common goals, and honor the values that have always
joined our nations together – I can think of no better
place to reaffirm the spirit of optimism that once drove
your founders to assemble in an old courthouse, confident
that their students would someday change the world – and
then set out to make that dream a reality.

It’s a
similar spirit that brings me to New Zealand this week, to
meet with Attorney General Finlayson and our counterparts
from Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For the
United States, and for our Quintet allies, these meetings
present an important chance to exchange ideas and share
expertise; to advance the principles of peace, security, and
equal justice that form the common foundation for our
respective legal systems; and to explore strategies for
working together – to address both domestic and
international challenges – in order to build the brighter,
safer future that all of our citizens deserve.

Although we
gather in a time of unprecedented difficulty – at a moment
of true consequence – I believe we can all be proud of
what our nations have achieved in recent years. By
collaborating closely – in common cause, in good faith,
and with mutual respect – we’ve addressed a host of
transnational issues. From combating cybercrime, terrorism,
and human trafficking, to fighting corruption and protecting
our citizens from exploitation, abuse, and violence –
together, we’ve made significant progress on a variety of
fronts. And this week, we’re sharing best practices for
protecting some of the most vulnerable members of society
– and prosecuting those who commit acts of sexual violence
against women and children. Together, we will examine how
we can improve domestic investigations and prosecutions of
these serious crimes, as well as how we can increase our
joint response to transnational sexual violence –
including in the contexts of human trafficking, online child
pornography, and armed conflicts.

As we look toward the
future of this work, I’m confident that we’ll be able to
continue building on the record of achievement that’s been
established – so long as we remain committed to working
together. That’s why I’m so grateful for this
opportunity to discuss just a few of our priorities with you
today. And it’s why I’d like to begin with a shared
challenge that demands international coordination, robust
action, and constant vigilance: our ongoing efforts to
combat terrorism and related security threats.

From the
Quintet’s inception, working together to respond to
terrorism has been one of our central themes. The
importance of this work was brought into sharp focus just
last month, in the most shocking and tragic of ways – when
a deadly terrorist attack in the United States, along the
route of the Boston Marathon, left three innocent people
dead and hundreds badly injured. In the days that followed
this heinous act – thanks to the valor of state and local
police, the dedication of federal law enforcement and
intelligence officials, and the vigilance of members of the
public – those suspected of carrying out this terrorist
act were identified. One person has been brought into
custody and charged in a federal civilian court with using a
weapon of mass destruction. And three others have been
arrested in connection with this investigation.

Now, this
matter remains open – and my colleagues and I are
determined to hold accountable, to the fullest extent of the
law, all who are found to bear responsibility for this
attack. We will be resolute in our efforts to seek justice
on behalf of the civilians and brave law enforcement
officers who were killed or injured, and to bring help and
healing to those who lost friends or loved ones. And we
will continue to rely on the support, assistance, and
critical intelligence and information-sharing capabilities
of our Quintet allies as we advance this and other
investigations – and strengthen our broader national
security and anti-terrorism efforts.

Over the last four
years, I’m proud to report that my colleagues and I have
obtained considerable results in this regard. We have
uncovered – and prevented – multiple plots by foreign
terrorist groups as well as homegrown extremists. Alongside
essential partners like the members of the Quintet, we’ve
bolstered information sharing in a manner that’s
consistent with the rule of law and with our most sacred
values. We’ve brought cases – and secured convictions
– against scores of dangerous terrorists. And, together,
we have taken significant steps to fulfill our mutual
obligation to protect and improve the lives of our citizens.
The Quintet has been an important mechanism for advancing
our joint efforts in this regard.

But all of this is only
the beginning. Our governments have long recognized that
regional and national problems invariably demand
international solutions. Particularly in recent years,
we’ve also found that transnational cooperation is
frequently just as important when it comes to addressing
domestic challenges. That’s another reason why we’ve
come together this week to engage with – and learn from
– one another, and to reinforce the ideals of fairness,
tolerance, and inclusion that form the foundations of our
legal systems and lie at the heart of our shared
history.

This history, and these ideals, are on full
display here at the University of Auckland, where
tomorrow’s leaders are learning to grapple with the
challenges – and thorny legal questions – that we’ll
undoubtedly face together in the years ahead. Every day,
you’re acquiring the skills and knowledge you’ll soon
need to take up positions of responsibility in all sectors
of society – not only here in New Zealand, but around the
world. No matter how you choose to put this training to
work – whether you build a career in business, science,
politics, or the law; whether you envision a future
defending the accused, bringing criminals to justice, ruling
from the bench, leading a corporation, working for an NGO,
or charting some other path altogether your own – each of
you will soon be charged with upholding these principles in
your own lives, and continuing the progress that this
University’s founders set in motion 130 years ago. And
all of you will be called upon – in a variety of ways –
to help honor and preserve the values that our nations have
always shared.

In the United States, my colleagues and I
are working hard to live out these values – and to instill
them in a new generation of American leaders – by fighting
to protect the safety, and the sacred civil rights, to which
of every member of society is entitled. We’re firmly
committed to preserving the principles of equality,
opportunity, and justice – from America’s housing and
lending markets, to our schools and boardrooms, military
bases, immigrant communities, border areas, and voting
booths. And we’re striving to uphold the rights of every
citizen – regardless of race, religion, gender, gender
identity, economic means, social status, or sexual
orientation.

In many ways, no single right is more
fundamental to our democratic values than the right of every
eligible citizen to participate in the act of
self-governance – by casting a ballot. The U.S.
Department of Justice is working diligently to safeguard
this right by vigorously enforcing key voting protections in
order to prevent discriminatory changes to elections
systems. We’re working closely with elected leaders
across America to make more fair – and to modernize –
our voting systems; to expand access and participation in
the electoral process; and to prevent and punish fraudulent
voting practices – however rare they may be.

Beyond this
work, we’re moving – both fairly and aggressively – to
promote the highest standards of integrity, independence,
and transparency in the enforcement of all civil rights
protections. We’re combating exploitation,
discrimination, intimidation, and bias-motivated violence.
And we’re taking significant measures to address repugnant
practices like human trafficking – and to prevent the
gun-, gang-, and drug-fueled violence that afflicts too many
communities across the United States, and too often
decimates the lives of our most vulnerable citizens: our
children.

Last December, a horrific mass shooting at an
elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut took the lives of
20 young children and 6 adults. It shocked our entire
nation, and captured headlines around the world. Just days
later, I traveled to the school where these unspeakable acts
took place. I walked the halls, saw the blood stains, and
met with first responders and crime scene investigators.
When those brave men and women asked me, with tears in their
eyes, to do everything in my power to prevent such a thing
from happening again, I told them I would not rest until we
had secured the changes our citizens need – and kept the
promise that we’ve made to all Americans whose lives have
been shattered by gun violence.

For me, for President
Obama, and for our colleagues throughout the Administration
– responding to this senseless violence, and working to
prevent future tragedies, constitutes a top priority. We
remain determined to achieve common-sense changes to reduce
gun-related crimes, to keep deadly weapons from falling into
the wrong hands, and to make America’s neighborhoods and
schools more secure. More broadly, we’re also seeking
ways to improve America’s criminal justice system as a
whole – and to promote public safety, deterrence,
efficiency, and fairness at every level. We’re leading
historic efforts to expand vital legal services for those
who cannot afford them – and to ensure that quality legal
representation is available, affordable, and accessible to
everyone, regardless of status or income. We’re tackling
criminal justice challenges that are common to countries
around the world – by exploring strategies to address
sentencing disparities; to tear down barriers that prevent
formerly incarcerated individuals from rejoining their
communities; to consider potential reforms of sentencing
policies in order to afford more flexibility to judges; and
to ensure that incarceration is used to punish, to deter,
but also to rehabilitate – not simply to warehouse and to
forget.

Above all – throughout the Justice Department
I’m honored to lead, and across the American government in
which I’m privileged to serve – we’re working to
safeguard the rights of every individual, to stand up for
the rule of law, to protect our citizens, and to advance the
cause of justice. Although our concerns, and our
approaches, may differ at times from the precise challenges
that all of you are called to contend with – as leaders
and future leaders here in New Zealand – I know our
priorities and values will always be the same. And our
values – our common values – must always be our guides.
Our joint commitment, and the bonds of friendship that unite
us, are stronger than ever before. And that’s why – as
I look around this crowd – I can’t help but feel
confident in our ability to build upon the work that’s
underway in both our countries; to continue the progress
that the Quintet has convened to carry forward; and to
extend the tradition of excellence that has always defined
this University – and that must continue to drive our
ongoing pursuit of justice – in New Zealand, in the United
States, and around the world.

In this work, I am grateful
for your leadership – and partnership. I know I speak for
all of my colleagues and counterparts when I say we are
proud of you. We are eager to see what your generation will
achieve – and where you will lead us – in the critical
days ahead. We are optimistic about the future you will
surely help to build. With the gifts you have been given,
with the training you will receive at this wonderful
institution, comes a profound responsibility that you must
feel, now and always. A responsibility to make the world
better, more fair and more accepting. You will have that
power and a unique 21st century opportunity to make this so.
Use it wisely and for the betterment of our world. You are
the best and the brightest – I am counting on you
all.

Egyptian jets bombed Islamic State targets in Libya on Monday, a day after the group there released a video showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians, drawing Cairo directly into the conflict across its border. More>>

Ambassadors representing two countries under attack from ISIL, Bashar Ja’afari (right) of Syria, and Mohamed Ali Alhakim of Iraq, speak to journalists following the adoption of a Security Council resolution targeting sources of financing for ... More>>

Abdullah Abu Rahma, coordinator of the popular committee in the village of Bil’in where Kayla joined the protests, told ISM: “Kayla came to Palestine to stand in solidarity with us. She marched with us and faced the military that occupies our ... More>>

3 February 2015 – Parents in the United States must vaccinate their children against measles in order to maintain the high levels of immunity necessary in keeping outbreaks of the aggressively contagious virus small and contained, the United Nations World ... More>>

3 February 2015 – For the second time in as many days, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations Security Council have jointly condemned the brutal killing of a civilian by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) – this time deploring ... More>>